This is a must-read for those who are going to a driving school and are moving due to their parents being transferred or moving, or for those who feel like their current driving school just doesn't suit them!
If you keep in mind the points introduced here, you will be able to smoothly transfer to another driving school even in the middle of your lessons and resume your lessons. Transferring to another driving school is not uncommon!
So here are some points to keep in mind to ensure a smooth transfer to another driving school.
Once you have read this, you will be able to prepare for your transfer more smoothly!

It is possible to transfer during the course!

On the other hand, there are no restrictions on how many times you can transfer schools. The only important point to keep in mind is the training period. This training period is 9 months from the start date of the training.
Standard cars, standard motorcycles, large motorcycles, semi-medium, medium, large, standard type 2, medium type 2, large type 2: The training period is 9 months.
Large special vehicle/towing: The training period is three months.

For example, if you enroll in a regular car school on August 1st and start your lessons on that day, your lessons will end on April 30th, nine months later.
You must complete the entire course of Driving Lessons and theoretical training by this deadline, but it doesn't matter how many driving schools you go to during this time. You can transfer schools. However, some driving schools will not accept transfers if the training deadline is approaching. Be sure to pay close attention to the deadline and act accordingly.

Dropping out and transferring schools are so different!!

As explained above, you can transfer schools as many times as you like during the nine-month training period, and the training items you have completed will be carried over. On the other hand, in the case of expulsion, once the driving school receives a request from the customer to withdraw from the school and processes the withdrawal (cancellation), the lessons that have already been conducted will no longer be able to be restored and transfer procedures will not be possible. You will have to start the enrollment process from the beginning. If you have just started your training and are thinking about what to do, don't hesitate and talk to someone at the driving school or your parents.

What to do if your lesson has expired

In the middle of stage 1

If the deadline expires during the first stage: Unfortunately, all training will be invalidated and you will have to start over from the beginning.

In the middle of the second stage

If the period expires during the second stage: All lessons will be invalidated, but first check the expiration date of the provisional license. The validity period of a provisional license is 6 months after it is issued. This expiration date will not be extended, but many schools have plans that allow you to enter the school with a "provisional license possession plan" if the expiration date still remains. I am. We also offer provisional license plans at training camps, so if you have time, it would be a good idea to compare the cost with a provisional license plan at a commuting school.

Transfer Expenses

When transferring schools, it often costs an additional 50,000 to 120,000 yen.

In conclusion,

• It often costs an additional 50,000 to 120,000 yen more than if you graduated without transferring.
• Of this amount, the entrance fee of the new driving school and the transfer fee of the current driving school account for the majority.

Let's take a closer look at each one.
First, we will explain how to cancel or withdraw from the driving school you are currently attending.
Next, we will explain the costs that will be incurred at the new driving school.

Transfer fee ①: Payment method and refund situation in case of mid-term cancellation

So, how much money will be refunded if you drop out of school midway?

If you cancel your contract mid-term due to your convenience, we will deduct the actual costs of necessary expenses based on our school regulations.

This wording is common.

Let's take a look at this in more detail.
First, let's take a look at the breakdown of tuition fees.

If the training fee is 259,000 yen (excluding tax)

Since the training record is a medical record of the progress of training, the record is used to check the actual progress of Driving Lessons and academic training, and is used as a reference when paying for mid-term cancellation.

For example, if you cancel midway through the first stage (5 hours of Driving Lessons and 6 hours of academic training)

[Actual cost]

Even if you only study for a few days, the actual cost includes the entrance fee and other expenses, so you will only be refunded about 2/3 of the amount. In addition, cancellation fees and miscellaneous expenses will be incurred.

continue,

For example, if you cancel midway through stage 2 (18 hours Driving Lessons and 12 hours of academic training)

[Actual cost]

This is also in the second stage, and even if you only take a few hours of training, you will only get a refund of about 1/3. In addition, cancellation fees and miscellaneous expenses will be incurred.

If you discontinue training and withdraw from school (cancellation), the refund amount will be calculated at the time of mid-term cancellation depending on whether or not Driving Lessons, academic training, and certification have been completed. In general, admission fees and other fees are often not eligible for refund once you enroll in the school. Additionally, a cancellation fee of 20,000 to 30,000 yen will be required separately. The reality is that the amount refunded to you is often lower than you expected.

Transfer fee ②: Regarding training fees when transferring schools

Next, we will explain the actual tuition fees when transferring schools.
*Admission fees, practical fees, written fees, examination fees, etc. vary depending on the driving school.

Training fee at the time of transfer = Admission fee + Untested training fee (skill unit price x number of untested hours) + Untested subject training fee (subject unit price x number of untested hours) + Untested skill test fee (test unit price x number of times) + Other expenses (teaching material cost + photo fee, aptitude test fee, effect measurement fee + etc..)

It goes without saying that there will be Driving Lessons, academic training, and certifications that have not yet been conducted at the driving school when you transfer, but the point is that you will also have to pay entrance fees and other expenses.

I can't say for sure, but the entrance fee is 30,000 to 80,000 yen, and other expenses are often 20,000 to 40,000 yen, so when you transfer, it will cost an additional 50,000 to 120,000 yen, and depending on the driving school. There may be a transfer fee of 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen.

Transfer Procedures

1) Inform the driving school you are currently attending that you intend to transfer.
If the driving school to which you will be transferring has been decided, you should also tell them the name of the school.

②The driving school you are currently attending will check the driving school you are transferring to to check your training record, which includes information on your progress, training deadline, and provisional license deadline. If the driving school you are currently attending will send you a set of training records, the resident card you brought with you when you entered the school, and an ID photo taken at the entrance ceremony, you will receive a set of documents by mail from the driving school you are currently attending to the driving school you are transferring to. In some cases, you may receive one and bring it directly to the school you are transferring to.

③ If the information is exchanged between driving schools, the driving school to which you are transferring will call you and provide you with instructions on how to re-enroll.

*There are no special procedures for you to complete, but if you change your residence due to moving etc. and your resident record changes, please promptly notify the driving school you are transferring to. If you change prefectures due to moving, etc., you will not be able to take the main license exam at the license center in your current prefecture unless you change your residence card.

Four things you need to know to transfer schools smoothly

1. If you are nearing the end of the first stage, we recommend that you complete Driving Test and Karimenkyo Written Test.
   (1) Training cars
   Generally, the training cars used at Driving School are different for each school. For students who are driving a car for the first time, the difficulty of driving increases significantly as the vehicle used in the training and the vehicle used for the test are different. The view from the driver's seat, the width of the car, and the way the gears are shifted are also different. Taking the practical test in a training car that you are familiar with is the quickest way to pass.
   (2) Course shape
   All designated driving schools in the country have the same test standards and points deductions, but the shape of the courses varies from school to school. Many students may find courses difficult, such as courses with a 15cm drop from the road edge (convex courses), courses with curbs on the road edge (concave courses), courses with slopes, courses with a lot of other vehicle traffic, and courses with poor visibility.
   (3) Written Examination
   It is said that the question trends for the written test vary slightly depending on the prefecture. Instructors at designated driving schools extract questions with many mistakes from effectiveness tests and practice questions, and encourage students to practice repeatedly to improve the passing rate of the written test.
   (4) Provisional license enrollment plan
   Driving schools have plans prepared in advance for students to take the first stage Driving Test and Karimenkyo Written Test, and then attend from the beginning of the second stage. This plan is for students who have transferred from the second stage, or for students whose licenses have expired but who only have a provisional license. For provisional license enrollment plans, some driving schools have lower enrollment fees than usual, and in the case of training camps, students can graduate in as little as seven nights and eight days, making the price more reasonable than attending classes. For regular cars, students must take 19 hours Driving Lessons and 16 hours of theory training in the second stage, totaling 35 hours of training. The advantage is that you can get all of this in just about a week.
2. If you are nearing the end of the second stage, we recommend that you continue until graduation rather than transferring schools.
   （１）路上コース
   The environment of road courses varies greatly from region to region, even more than that of on-site courses. Traffic volume, number of intersections, number of road signs (guidance, regulation, warning, instructions, assistance, etc.), number of people walking on the sidewalk, number of bicycles and motorcycles on the road, etc. These are common concerns that are often asked of students who have transferred from a rural training school to a commuter school in an urban area.

summary

How was it? No one may enter a driving school with the prospect of transferring from the beginning. However, the procedure for transferring schools within the training deadline is easy, and once the deadline has passed, you will be sent back to square one. We hope that this article will help you enjoy a rich car life after getting your driver's license.